After the fatigue and anxiety they had gone through, it was not long
before Denis and Percy began to feel excessively drowsy.
"Take care you don't fall off, Percy," said Denis; "or let your gun drop
either. I've fastened mine to my neckerchief, and I'd advise you to do
the same."
"I have jammed myself and my gun between two branches, so that there is
no chance of falling," answered Percy; "but I'll make fast my ostrich
eggs, for I would not lose them on any account, lest we should have to
breakfast off that horrible snake."
"Little chance of that," murmured Denis. "By to-morrow morning there
won't be a scrap of it left."
Denis said this in a very drowsy tone. His eyes were fixed on the fire,
which seemed to him sometimes to flare up with unusual brightness, then
to flit about, then totally to disappear, for the best of reasons, his
eyes were closed. Percy was also just going off, when his ears were
assailed by a hideous uproar of shrieks and howls and barks.
Looking out from his leafy covert, he could see a number of creatures
moving about in the direction of the spot to which the body of the snake
had been dragged. He guessed what they were, and was very thankful that
he and his companion were safe up the tree.
"Do you hear those brutes, Denis?" he asked; but there was no answer.
He could see the place where he supposed his friend lay, but could not
reach him. At first the dreadful idea occurred that he might have
fallen off, and he was about to crawl along the branch to feel for him,
when the light from the fire flickered on one of his arms, and he knew
that he must be fast asleep. He had not the cruelty to awaken him, and
indeed after he got accustomed to the hideous chorus raised by the
hyenas and jackals, his own eyes began to close. He could just make out
Fangs by the light of the fire, crouching down close to the trunk, and
every now and then giving vent by a low growl to his anger as he watched
the savage creatures devouring the snake on which he had intended to
breakfast.
Percy had scarcely shut his eyes, when he was startled by hearing a
terrific roar, and looking towards where the hyenas and jackals had been
holding their revels, he saw them scampering away in every direction,
while the glare of the fire fell on the head and shoulders of an
enormous lion. The king of brutes, however, looked disappointed at
finding only a few scraps of a mangled snake, instead of the repast he
expected, and not deigning to touch the leavings of the jackals, he
advanced a short distance towards the tree. Afraid to approach nearer
the fire, he stopped and began to roar loudly.
"Roar away, old fellow," cried Percy. "You'll not get hold of us."
That was true enough so far as he and Denis and Raff were concerned, but
the case was very different with regard to poor Fangs. Between him and
the lion there was only a small fire, which the latter might spring over
at a single bound. He prudently neither barked nor growled, but shrank
closer and closer to the trunk, while the lion stood within a dozen
yards of him, every now and then uttering a terrific roar.
To Percy's surprise, Denis slept on in spite of the roaring. He was
probably dreaming about it, but it had not the effect of awakening him.
Percy thought of shooting the lion and trying to save Fangs, but found
that he could not fire without changing his position, and he was afraid,
in attempting to do so, that he might fall to the ground, he therefore
contented himself with watching the lion. The animal evidently
suspected that there was something up the tree, and having roared for
some minutes, he began to circle round it, keeping, however, at a
respectful distance. Would Fangs escape his scrutiny? Percy could no
longer see the dog, for the fire was getting low, and he was concealed
by the roots. Presently there was the sound of a rush, of a heavy blow
struck, but not a growl nor a cry was heard, and then the lion bounded
off with something in his mouth.
No sooner had he gone, than the hyenas and jackals came back, but they
too in a short time, having probably finished the snake, also took their
departure. Percy had too much reason to fear that poor Fangs had become
the prey of the lion; but his thoughts began to wander, and overcome by
fatigue, he was soon fast asleep.
The night passed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. It
was broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observed
that the sky was completely obscured.
"Hallo! we must have had a long snooze," he exclaimed. "Are you all
right, Percy?"
"Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretched
my legs, I daresay," answered Percy. "Dear me! the fire has gone out."
"Then the sooner we get down and light it the better," said Denis.
They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing down
the guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach the
ground.
"Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went to
sleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood," observed Percy.
"You dreamed about one probably, as I did," said Denis, "and a fearful
roaring I fancied he made."
Percy assured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it so
minutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almost
convinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot where
the snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained.
"Hallo! what has become of Fangs?" he exclaimed.
"The lion, I fear, has carried him off," answered Percy.
Of this there could be no doubt, for no trace of the poor dog could be
discovered, except a few drops of blood close to the base of the tree
where he had been lying down.
"The chances are, the lion has gone to a distance, and won't come back
at all events until we have lighted a fire," observed Denis, as they set
to work to collect fuel, when without loss of time they cooked another
ostrich egg for breakfast. They then started on their tramp, fancying
that, although there was no sun to guide them, they could easily make
their way by continuing the same course as they had followed on the
previous day.
After going a short distance, still unsuccessful in their search for
water, Percy again suggested that they should keep to the right, so as
to fall in with the waggon. To this Denis agreed, and they accordingly
turned, as they supposed, to the east. As, however, there was no wind,
they could not be certain that they were keeping in a direct line. Had
there been any prominent objects by which they could steer, their minds
would have been more comfortable on the subject. After going some
distance, Percy declared that he thought they must be up to the course
the waggon was to take. Seeing a tall tree a little distance ahead,
they made towards it, and agreed to climb into the topmost branches,
that they might take a look-out, hoping that they should see the waggon
coming along. Percy, who was well accustomed to climbing, offered to
mount the tree, while Denis took charge of his gun and one of the
remaining ostrich eggs which he had carried. The tree was more
difficult to get up than he had supposed, but he managed at length to
reach a high bough, from whence he could obtain a wide view around.
"I can see nothing of the waggon," he shouted. "The country looks
everywhere equally arid and barren, except to the northward, and there I
see some trees, which from their bright green hue must grow near water."
"Well, then, come down, and we will make towards them," said Denis; and
as soon as Percy had descended, they set off in the direction he had
indicated.
They were getting very thirsty. Had the sun been shining, they would
have suffered even more than they did; but as it was, their throats were
parched and dry, and they eagerly pressed forward, in the hope of
speedily obtaining water.
Their disappointment was proportionally great when, arriving at the
trees towards which they had been directing their course, no stream or
pool could be found.
Percy, who had hitherto kept up bravely, threw himself on the ground,
almost in despair.
"Oh, I am so thirsty! What shall we do?" he cried.
"I'll tell you what we must do--get up and push along," answered Denis.
"I fancy that I see some more trees, much greener than any we have yet
passed, and the chances are we shall find water near them."
Percy, thus encouraged, got up. He had no wish to give in as poor Gozo
had done. It was very trying, but the lads had stout hearts, and kept
up bravely. They reached the trees at last, once more to be
disappointed. Accompanied by Raff, who was suffering as much as they
were, they ran here and there, attracted by a shrub looking fresher than
usual, then by a depression in the ground.
Percy, who had gone some distance, shouted, "Hurrah! here are signs of
water."
Denis hurried to the spot. The ground sloped down to where Percy was
standing, looking into a deep basin or hollow. The bottom was moist.
They both jumped down, digging away with their hands. Though the sand
was wet, no actual water could they see. They somewhat allayed their
burning thirst by putting the moist sand to their mouths. The
appearance of the moisture encouraged them to hope that they might get
to good water at last. Still they dug and dug with the same result as
before. At length Denis stopped.
"The sand is getting drier instead of moister, and I am very much afraid
that this is merely a hole once full of rain, which being low down and
sheltered has not been dried up by the sun."
Percy agreed with him, and all they could do was to suck some of the
still moist sand, and to place it on the back of their necks, which gave
them temporary relief. It was very evident that all their labour had
been in vain.
"It cannot be helped," cried Denis. "Forward is the word, and on we
must go. Perhaps before long we shall find another hole with water at
the bottom, or some more roots, though unless some baboons help us, I
don't know how we shall discover them."
"I wish that we could feel a little more certain we are going in the
right direction," observed Percy. "If the sun would but come out, I
should be more happy in my mind on that score."
The clouds, however, hung as thickly as before from the sky. Had they
sent down their contents, the wanderers would have been relieved from
the burning thirst from which they were again suffering.
Although there was no sun, the air was hot and oppressive, and they
began to feel much fatigued from their long tramp. Still they felt that
it would be folly to halt while they had strength left to go on. So
they pushed forward mile after mile. Denis declared that he was certain
they were going in a north-westerly direction, from the appearance of
the bark on the trees, which on that side was dry and perfectly free
from moisture, while on the other, whence the rain generally came, here
and there a few fungi and a little moss could occasionally be
discovered. Percy did not like to express doubt about the correctness
of his friend's opinion, but he was not convinced that he was right.
Another night was approaching. Percy, less inured to fatigue than his
companion, felt that unless he could obtain water and rest, he could
scarcely hope to live through it. Still he struggled on, Denis doing
his best to encourage him.
"Lean on my shoulder, and let me carry your gun," he said; "you'll get
on better then; and when we camp, and you have had another ostrich egg,
you'll find your strength restored."
"If I can manage to eat it," murmured Percy, "but I much doubt whether I
can get even that down my throat."
"Never fear; I see some thick bushes, and I fancy some rocks beyond.
We'll camp there, if you find yourself unable to go farther; and we
shall have plenty of fuel for our fire, and who knows but that we may
find water?"
Denis said this in a no very confident tone, for he was almost beginning
to despair of discovering what they were so eagerly in search of. Still
he hoped that rest and food, and the cooler air of night, might restore
Percy, and that they might push on for another day, at all events.
Raff continued creeping after them, the very picture of misery, his
tongue hanging out, and his head down. Every now and then he would look
up to their faces in the most piteous manner, as if to ask when they
were going to find water. The poor dog was suffering from hunger as
well as thirst; for although he had licked the ostrich egg shells clean,
he had got but little nourishment out of them. At last the bushes seen
in the distance were reached, and Percy, sinking on the ground, declared
that he could go no farther.
"Well then, we will camp here," said Denis; "and while you rest, I'll
collect some wood for our fire."
Raff crouched down by the side of Percy, though his eyes followed his
master while he was employed as he proposed. He was not long in
collecting a sufficient supply of sticks to commence a fire.
"I'll get more while the egg is cooking," he said, throwing down the
bundle. The fire was soon burning up brightly, and an egg was put on.
Percy had just strength enough to watch it, while Denis collected some
more sticks. He then came and sat down by the side of Percy, to whom he
kept talking, while he stirred the egg. "I think it must be done now,"
he said. "Come, eat away, old fellow, and you'll soon be yourself
again."
"It's water I want! it's water I want!" murmured Percy.
"But as we haven't water, the egg is the next best thing you can take,"
said Denis, helping him.
But poor Percy could scarcely gulp it down. All the time Raff was
looking up as much as to say, "I wish you'd give me some of that; I'd
eat it fast enough." Denis could not resist the imploring looks of the
poor dog, and gave him a portion of his own share.
The usual noises of the African wilds were absent,--not even the note of
a bird was heard. Suddenly Denis lifted his head in the attitude of
listening.
"Hark, Percy!" he said. "I heard a peculiar murmur. Yes, I am nearly
certain it is the sound of falling water. Do you listen."
"I pray Heaven that you are right. I think so," said Percy.
"Well, then, do you stay here by the fire, and I'll go and look for it
alone, if you are not able to come with me," said Denis. "Keep your gun
on the cock, and your eye about you, in case any brute of a lion or
leopard should come near, though I don't suppose there's much chance of
that."
Percy tried to rise, but declared his inability to move farther, so
Denis set off. The moment Raff saw him going, he crawled after him.
Denis had taken both his own and Percy's water bottle. No sooner had he
got round the clump of bushes than he saw before him some rocks, beyond
which the ground rose, covered with shrubs, extending away to a
considerable distance; but no signs of water could he perceive. He
stopped and listened. The same sound as before reached his ears. He
could not be mistaken. He went on, until, to his unspeakable joy, he
saw a spring of bright sparkling water rushing out of the cliff, falling
from rock to rock, but instead of forming a rivulet, it was almost
immediately lost in the sand, of which the bottom of the gully was
composed. There was one part, however, which he could reach by climbing
without much difficulty. Poor Raff, who had followed him thus far, was
unable to get up to it, and looked wistfully at him, evidently
entreating to have some given him without delay. Denis, having quenched
his own thirst, filled the water bottles, and then, looking down at poor
Raff, he filled his hat also, and brought that to the dog, who quickly
lapped up the contents. Losing as little time as possible, he hastened
back to Percy.
"Hurrah!" he exclaimed, as he came in sight of the fire, "I've got some
water. You'll soon be all to rights, Percy."
But Percy did not reply; his heart sank. Could anything have happened?
He rushed forward. Percy lay gasping on the ground. He lost not a
moment in lifting his friend's head, in moistening his lips, and then
pouring some water down his throat.
Percy at length opened his eyes, and said, "Thank you, thank you; oh,
how delicious!"
Denis gave him another draught of water. "There, now I think you can
eat some more egg," he observed. "I propose that we cook the last one.
We are sure to fall in with game. If we take plenty of food now, we
shall the better be able to go in chase of it."
At last Percy sat up and managed to eat the remainder of the first egg
cooked, and some of the other; then he took another draught of water.
He felt that he could drink any quantity of that. It was now too late
to continue their journey; indeed, Denis had only time to collect a
further supply of sticks before darkness came on. They made up the fire
in a semi-circle, and lay down as close to it as they could venture to
do without risk of burning themselves, hoping thus to be secure from the
attacks of wild beasts, while Raff took a post near them, to act as
sentinel.
Poor Percy was soon fast asleep. Denis did his utmost to keep watch;
but he also, having made up the fire, soon dropped off. He had been
asleep some time when he was aroused by hearing Raff growl and bark. He
started up and looked about him, but could see nothing. Indeed, the
fire had burned so low, that its embers cast but a faint light to a
short distance. Fortunately, he had reserved some sticks, which he
immediately threw on the fire. As they burned up, he took another look
round, when he saw the dim outline of some animal passing by. Whether a
lion, leopard, or hyena, he could not make out. Percy was sleeping so
soundly, that he did not like to awaken him; but he determined not to go
to sleep himself again if he could help it.
Raff had ceased growling, so he concluded that the animal, frightened by
the flames, had gone off. He hoped that it would not return. Had he
not been aroused at the moment by his faithful dog, he and his companion
might have lost their lives, and he felt grateful for their
preservation. He husbanded the remaining sticks with care, for he was
afraid that they might not hold out until the morning, and he employed
himself by stirring up the embers when they grew dim, and raking them
together. At length the sticks were exhausted. He dared not move from
the camp to collect more; indeed, he would have had to go to some
distance, as he had already picked up all those near at hand.
The fire grew dimmer and dimmer, until at last but a faint semi-circle
of embers remained. Shortly afterwards, however, he became aware by
seeing shrubs and rocks, which he had been hitherto unable to
distinguish, that the light of day was returning, but the clouds still
hung so densely around the horizon, that he was unable to ascertain the
direction of the east. This he had hoped to do, that they might with
greater certainty direct their course. At last the light became
sufficient to enable them to proceed. He called Percy, who at once got
up, saying that he was greatly refreshed and ready to go on as well as
ever, though he wished they had another ostrich egg on which to
breakfast.
"We can't eat our loaf and have it too," answered Denis, "but I hope we
shall have something as good."
They first made their way to the fountain, where they refreshed
themselves with a draught of pure water, and having given as much to
Raff as he could drink, they filled their water bottles, washed their
faces and heads, and then pushed on, their spirits cheered with the hope
of soon obtaining some game, and of falling in with the waggon before
the day was over.
They trudged on, and although they saw some animals in the distance,
they could not get near enough to distinguish what they were. It showed
them, however, that there must be water in the neighbourhood, and they
hoped therefore before long to come upon it. Percy had for some time
been walking with much less elasticity than when they first started. At
last he proposed that they should stop and eat the remainder of the
biscuit they carried in their pouches. Having a good supply of water,
they could now swallow it, which they could not have done on the
previous day. They made towards a tree which would afford them shade,
and on reaching it sat down and took their frugal breakfast, but poor
Raff had to go without any, as Denis knew that it would be folly to give
him any of the biscuit, which would not have satisfied his hunger.
Again they went on, looking out anxiously for the tracks of the waggon
wheels, or other signs which might indicate that their friends had been
that way. Denis at last had to confess that he felt somewhat anxious.
The day wore on, and though very thirsty, they husbanded their water for
fear of not finding any before night.
They were almost in despair of falling in with game, when they caught
sight, issuing from behind a wood in the distance, of a troop of pallahs
coming in their direction. Looking about eagerly for some cover behind
which they could conceal themselves, until the pallahs came near, they
observed a thick bush a short distance ahead; they made for it, and got
under cover, they hoped, without having been seen. The animals moved
slowly along, feeding as they came. When within a hundred yards of the
bush, they turned aside, to the bitter disappointment of the young
hunters.
"We must be after them," said Denis; "and if we can still find cover, we
may get near enough to have a shot. Come, let us put our best feet
forward. Stoop down as low as you can. Heel, Raff, heel!" he whispered
to his dog, who was too well-trained to disobey him, and kept close
behind him.
The pallahs kept moving on, sometimes slowly, at other times much
faster. Percy felt but little able to follow, though he did his best.
On and on they went. Before them they saw a grove of tall trees,
towards which the pallahs were directing their course.
"The chances are there's water not far off, and if the animals go down
to drink we shall have a good chance of shooting one," whispered Denis.
The pallahs reached the wood, but stopped to graze outside it. This
enabled Denis and Percy to creep up towards it, at a part some distance
from where they were feeding. They thus hoped, by making their way
through the wood, to be able to get near enough to the animals to obtain
a good shot. They had cautiously crept on for some way when Percy
stopped, and seizing his companion's arm, pointed up to the branch of a
tree under which they were about to pass. There, extended at its full
length, ready for a spring, lay an enormous leopard. Its eyes were
turned away from them, watching the pallahs. They stepped cautiously
back, having no doubt that had they attempted to pass under the bough,
the leopard would have been down upon them, and probably killed both, as
they were close together. They retreated behind a tree, where they
stood watching for what would next occur. Denis well knew that should
they wound the leopard, and not kill it, it would become a terrible foe.
The pallahs, unsuspicious of danger, at last moved towards the tree,
several entering the wood almost together. One approached the fatal
bough. Like a flash of lightning, the leopard sprang upon the
unfortunate creature, and in an instant it lay dead, struck down by its
powerful claws.
"Now is our time," whispered Denis: "let us fire together; I'll aim at
the leopard's head; do you fire at its shoulder, and then, without
stopping to see if we have killed it, we'll retreat behind the tree and
reload."
The plan was perfectly carried out. Before the smoke cleared away they
had sprung back to their places of concealment, and had begun rapidly
reloading. The instant Denis was ready, he cautiously stepped out from
behind the trunk.
"Hurrah!" he shouted. "We did better than I expected."
There, within twenty yards, lay the leopard and the deer, both dead.
Under other circumstances they would have been eager to possess
themselves of the leopard's skin, which was of considerable value, but
as it was they were far more anxious to obtain a supply of meat. They
therefore set to work to cut off as much as they could carry from the
pallah, without stopping to skin or disjoint it, while Raff enjoyed an
abundant meal from the pieces which his master threw to him. The rest
of the pallahs had taken to flight.
"We must remember this spot; and if we find Hendricks before long, he
will be glad to send for this skin, supposing it is not torn to pieces
in the meantime by the rascally hyenas and jackals."
After the excitement of the chase, they were tempted to stop and take a
draught of water, which nearly exhausted their stock. Anxious to obtain
a fresh supply, they made their way through the forest in the hope of
coming across a stream, towards which they supposed the pallahs had been
bending their steps.
"There's the water!" suddenly exclaimed Denis; "I see the animals
drinking at it."
The animals were there, but as the young hunters approached they took to
flight. Having meat enough, they did not feel justified in firing a
shot after them.
On reaching the spot, great was their disappointment to find that
although there had been a little water, the pallahs had drunk it almost
dry, while the remainder had sunk through the bottom, in which their
feet had trampled. Not a drop could they obtain.
The wood formed an oasis in the wilderness; for farther on the country
assumed the same barren, arid aspect as before.
"We must either go back to the fountain we left this morning, or push
our way over this stony ground as fast as we can," said Denis.
"Let us go on," answered Percy; "we may find water again before long, or
may fall in with the waggon."
"Then I vote we fortify ourselves first with some meat," said Denis; and
collecting some wood, they speedily had a fire lighted, and some of the
venison roasting before it.
Eager to prosecute their journey, after a short rest, they again set
off. Night overtook them, however, and they had only just time to reach
some bushes, which afforded but slight shelter and a scanty supply of
firewood, before darkness came on.
They laboured in collecting sticks as long as the light lasted, and
then, having made up their fire, cooked and eaten their supper, and
drunk the remainder of their water, they lay down close to it, fatigue
preventing them from troubling their minds as to what might happen
during the night.